How to Stop a Nose Bleed?

While it can be scary to see blood coming out of the nose, staying calm is very important. If you follow the steps below, you should be able to successfully stop a nose bleed.

During the nose bleedPinching method

Stay calm, slowly taking deep breaths through your mouth.

Keep your head down.

Put ice on the bridge of your nose (the bony part). Placing ice on the back of you neck works well as there is an artery located there that sends blood to your head. This works well for some people, but this can vary from person to person.

Pinch your nose just below the bridge. There is a vein just below the nose bone that is the source of many bloody noses. Pinching puts pressure on it, which arrests the bleeding and speeds the clotting process.

Pinch for 10 minutes. Try not to let go to see if the bleeding has stopped – it might start again.

Find a bathroom as you continue pinching. Now that you have slowed the bleeding by pinching, you should find a bathroom where you can clean up once the bleeding has stopped.

If the bleeding continues, pinch again for another 10 minutes. If your nose is still bleeding, pinch for a further 10 minutes. If the bleeding still persists, then seek medical attention.

Afrin method

Spray nose four times in the bleeding nostril(s) with a decongestant spray such as Afrin or Neo–Synephrine. Decongenstant sprays such as these contain oxymetazoline nasal which constrict blood vessels and stop bleeding within seconds.

Do not use oxymetazoline nasal for longer than 3 to 5 days. Longer use could cause damage to your nasal tissue and lead to chronic congestion. If your symptoms do not improve, see your doctor.

Adrenaline method

Do not pinch the nostril. Hold tissue to nose to catch blood and check bleeding.

This part takes practice: induce an adrenaline rush. Adrenaline constricts the smaller blood vessels in the body (like those in the nose), thus stopping a nose bleed. A nose bleed can be stopped in the time it takes for an adrenaline surge to take place; for some in as little as 5–10 seconds.

Cold shower method

Since heat dilate your vessels, taking a cold shower can improve drastically the stopping time (recommended for heavy bleeding), plus this will avoid making a mess with your clothes and you’ll get out all clean of blood.

If you have no shower at hand, try refreshing your neck, forehead, forearms, and feet with cold water.

Cotton ball method

If you find yourself in a situation where you can not do any of the methods above (say they don’t work, you have a limited time, or you find yourslef in a certain area), don’t panic.

Be very calm. Find an average sized cotton ball, rip it in half, and place it into the bleeding nostril. This may cause some discomfort and may restrict your breathing.

Every 10 minutes or so, check on the bleeding nostril to see whether it has stopped bleeding.

When it stops bleeding, take the cotton ball out and discard it.

When you have time, as soon as possible, take a Q–tip, squeeze some gel on it (Use one specially made for wounds like these, such as Rhinaris gel) and rub it on the inside of your nose. This will heal your cut.

After the nose bleed
Do not clean out your nose after the bleeding has stopped – this can dislodge clots and start the bleeding again.

Clean up everything else.

Turn on a cool vaporizer to moisten mucus membranes, which will help prevent the nosebleed from recurring.

Moisturize. Apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to the inside of the nostrils to moisten the passages and prevent the nosebleed from recurring. Use your fingertip.

Avoid doing anything to cause your nose to bleed. Don’t blow your nose, pick your nose, or bump it if at all possible.

Tips
If you get a lot of nose bleeds, talk to your doctor.

To prevent problems in the future, raise the humidity level in your living quarters by using a humidifier. Most nosebleeds occur when nasal blood vessels become dry and cracked.

During the dry months try eating spinach or broccoli every other day. The vitamin K is supposed to help clotting. Some other foods with vitamin K are lettuce and swiss chard.

If your nosebleed is caused by rhinitis and allergy, try to avoid clotting your nose, as you are likely to sneeze again, which would remove the clot, and restart the bleeding (sometimes stronger !). A good way to do this is by snorting cold water up and down the bleeding nostril, which will also help stop the bleeding by contracting vessels. By doing so the bleeding will stop without excessive clotting, thus having a smaller and sneeze–proof clot. Also refer to the cold shower method. Another way to deal with rhinitis allergy nose bleeding can be to put a hydrogen peroxide soaked cellulose wadding in your nostril (try to have contact with the bleeding vessel or this may juste make a big clot).

A good way to prevent nose bleeding in general is by cleaning everyday your nostrils with warm water (warm being less irritating than cold). Best being specifically designed salt water spray you can find in many stores or drugstores.

Warnings
The “Pinching Method” is the only generally accepted medical practice for stopping epistaxis (nosebleeds).

It is not recommended that you tilt your head back while suffering a nose bleed (contrary to popular belief). This allows blood to flow into the esophagus and poses a choking hazard, as well as causing blood to collect in the stomach. Too much swallowed blood will cause emesis (vomiting). Tilt forward instead.

During a severe nosebleed, don’t be surprised if blood starts dripping from the corner of your eye next to your nose. The lacrimal duct there is connected to the nasal sinuses and blood can flow out of it during a bad nosebleed. However, if you have a nosebleed that severe, you should probably be seen in an emergency room.

Blood loss can be very dangerous. If you start to feel dizzy or light headed, call an ambulance immediately, you may have lost a dangerous amount of blood. This is rare.

Nose Bleed

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